Need Some Advice...

[Tony_P]

After getting back a nice refund check this year I decided to finally purchase some speakers and a receiver to go with my KDS-R60XBR2. I think I have settled on a set of speakers that will fit my space needs without sacrificing too much in Paradigm's Cinema 90 CT. Now, I just need to pick out a receiver.

I have about $1200-1500 to spend and am looking to get good value (in terms of features/price) while not comprimising sound quality. My initial search turned up a few choices: Marantz SR7002, Onkyo TX-SR805, Pioneer VSX-92TXH

I am not very knowledgable about receivers (and speakers) and would appreciate any advice you all could provide...

Thanks,

Anthony

 

[bandphan]

After getting back a nice refund check this year I decided to finally purchase some speakers and a receiver to go with my KDS-R60XBR2. I think I have settled on a set of speakers that will fit my space needs without sacrificing too much in Paradigm's Cinema 90 CT. Now, I just need to pick out a receiver.

I have about $1200-1500 to spend and am looking to get good value (in terms of features/price) while not comprimising sound quality. My initial search turned up a few choices: Marantz SR7002, Onkyo TX-SR805, Pioneer VSX-92TXH

I am not very knowledgable about receivers (and speakers) and would appreciate any advice you all could provide...

Thanks,

Anthony

start with the speakers before the power, thats the thought.

 

[Tony_P]

I am going to purchase both speakers and the receiver at the same time. My total budget for both is about 2k...

The room where I am setting this up is less than ideal and I am unfortunately limited on space. I have a 12x15 room with hardly any clearance (about 9-10 inches) on the sides of the TV for tower speakers so I figured my best option would be to hang/wall mount some smaller speakers from the ceiling/wall.

[][][][]----____________----------
[]````````````(TV)``````````` []
[]``````````````````````(Door)[]
[]`(Nook/Hallway)``````````````[]
[]````````````````````````````|
|`````````````````````````````|
|`````````````````````````````|
|`````````````````````````````|
|`````````````````````````````|
|`````````````````````````````|
|`````````````````````````````|
|`````````````````````````````|
|````````(Chair)```(Chair)```````|
---------------------------------


Also, my rear projection TV sticks out about 2 ft from the wall and the speakers on the side of the TV aren't removable like they are on the 70 inch model (making it even harder to squeeze tower speakers in).

I thought about putting a Paradigm Millenia Trio underneath the TV but that would require building up the stand to create a cavity for the speaker to rest on. I guess this might be a viable option if i could make the stand work... I know it would sound better than going with the Cinema speakers.

I don't mind putting off purchasing the receiver to get the best speakers I can afford I just am very limited with what I can actually fit in the room. Does anyone have any suggestions on the speakers or the receiver?

Thank you,

-Anthony

 

[bandphan]

are you saying that you only have 9" of width to work with for mains? And if your set on that speaker, the aforementioned receivers are overkill, spend a little less and get a good sub.

 

[MDS]

Keep in mind that no room will be ideal. Speakers are more important than the receiver but we alll must decide how to allocate our available funds.

With that in mind, it sounds like you are fairly well sold on a Paradigm speaker setup (not a bad choice at all). What I always question is why the need to buy a receiver near the top of the line? The way it works for 'high end' receivers is as you go up in price you get incremental features and performance improvements for an exponential increase in price. Now maybe I'm in the minority, but I think you should pick the speakers first(taking into account performance (specs)/price/aesthetics) and only then pick the receiver.

How big is this room? You might be well served by an Onkyo 6xx series instead of the 8xx series (or similar from Yamaha or Marantz).

 

[Tony_P]

are you saying that you only have 9" of width to work with for mains? And if your set on that speaker, the aforementioned receivers are overkill, spend a little less and get a good sub.

Yes. On the right of the TV is my front door and with it fully open I have btw 9-10" clearance. On the left side I have a hallway with about an inch more before I am blocking the walkway.

I am not really set on any brand or type of speaker, I just have heard good things about Paradigm and I don't know if I can squeeze anything bigger into my room. That being said, I originally wanted to go with a much beefier set of speakers but it seems that I am stuck with the satelite configuration. If I could make a set of towers or something like the Trio (with the FR/C/FL channels in one enclosure) fit than I would be happily go that route.

 

[Tony_P]

Keep in mind that no room will be ideal. Speakers are more important than the receiver but we alll must decide how to allocate our available funds.

With that in mind, it sounds like you are fairly well sold on a Paradigm speaker setup (not a bad choice at all). What I always question is why the need to buy a receiver near the top of the line? The way it works for 'high end' receivers is as you go up in price you get incremental features and performance improvements for an exponential increase in price. Now maybe I'm in the minority, but I think you should pick the speakers first(taking into account performance (specs)/price/aesthetics) and only then pick the receiver.

How big is this room? You might be well served by an Onkyo 6xx series instead of the 8xx series (or similar from Yamaha or Marantz).

12.5' wide x 15' long

 

[bandphan]

are in wall in / in ceiling an option? Keep the wife happy and less clutter For under 300 a speaker you can get a lcr set and a sub like PB12-NSD/2 on clearence for 799 and yamaha 663 and your around your 2k budget.

exmpl:3 http://www.legacyaudiovideo.com/niauhdibrnew.html (note the are priced per pair, and they will sell singles)

 

[Bugbitten]

Several of the ID companies offer forums with audition sites. Some have 30 trial policies. Most sell electronics of some brand also.

You might check out Axiom Audio, AV123, Aperion Audio, RBH. There are many. Try to find an audition near you.

 

[Tony_P]

After agonizing over my speaker selection this past weekend, I decided to go back into the store to have another look around to see if anything else jumped out at me. When I was walking around I noticed that the Milenia stands were pretty narrow… I measured them and they came out to be ~ 9.25in which (barely) fits in my room! So I here is what I ended up getting:

- (2) Milenia 200
- (1) Milenia 20
- (2) Milenia ADP
- (1) Seismic 10"

This setup ended up costing me much more than what I was anticipating on spending so I will have to save up some more before I can afford a new AVS (leaning towards the Marantz 7002). I have an old HK that will have to get me by until then. Thanks for all of your help.

 

[Midcow2]

Assuming you have 9-10" on each side of TV for towers.

Here is a pretty good solution:

Definitive Technology BP8 speakers 7" wide, 11" D, 38" H at retail $499 each.

Definitive Technology ProCenter2000 center speaker retail $349.

Add a SVS sub later.

This will give you very very nice sound within the space limitations you have

 

[mahdlokg]

After agonizing over my speaker selection this past weekend, I decided to go back into the store to have another look around to see if anything else jumped out at me. When I was walking around I noticed that the Milenia stands were pretty narrow… I measured them and they came out to be ~ 9.25in which (barely) fits in my room! So I here is what I ended up getting:

- (2) Milenia 200
- (1) Milenia 20
- (2) Milenia ADP
- (1) Seismic 10"

This setup ended up costing me much more than what I was anticipating on spending so I will have to save up some more before I can afford a new AVS (leaning towards the Marantz 7002). I have an old HK that will have to get me by until then. Thanks for all of your help.

I believe the Marantz would be a nice choice. I have the SR8002 and am extremely happy with it. Just so you know, the Marantz SR7002 can be found for 999.00 or less from Marazntz Authorized dealers. If you decide you can't wait, you can find the pioneer VSX 92, The Yamaha 1800 for 1-200 less, and the Onkyo 805 for about 699.00 give or take. Do not buy from unauthorized dealers as it will void your warranty. Good luck and enjoy.